Saturday, February 18, 2012

February 13-15, 2012 Forecast Results

The next in the long-range weather forecast series published in The Mountain Astrologer is ready to be looked at. This is the forecast for February 13-15 and was drawn up over half a year ago in July 2011. The forecasts appeared in the Feb/Mar 2012 edition of the magazine.

ForecastFebruary 13-15, 2012The combined influence of Mercury conjunct Neptune, and Venus square Pluto will increase atmospheric moisture, resulting in atmospheric disturbances where these planets occupy the angles of key charts. The U.S. West Coast will see a storm system move into the Pacific Northwest and push toward the Rockies. Precipitation intensifies over the Plains states, around Iowa and Missouri, while the Northeast gets in on the storm action as well.

Cold air will funnel down through Siberia toward central China, triggering storms.

ResultsBetween the 13th and 15th a number of storms moved in over the Pacific Northwest and California. The Accuweather map below for the 13th shows what is called an "inside slider" or storm system that slides into California from the northwest focusing its energy over the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin.

This next Accuweather map is for the 14th and shows another of a continuing parade of storms that brought unsettled conditions to the Pacific Northwest.

The forecast also mentioned precipitation intensifying over the Plains especially Iowa and Missouri. The Weather Channel map below for the 13th shows snow and rain affecting Iowa and Missouri as well as the Plains. According to The Weather Channel several inches of snow blanketed a wide area from the central Plains to the Appalachians while the heaviest snow, around 3 to 5 inches, targeted central Missouri.

The storm action forecast for the Northeast arrived on the 16th, a day after the forecast period ended, although there was some spotty snow for the interior Northeast on Valentine's Day. The Weather Channel map below for the 16th shows the arrival of the low pressure system.

The forecast also called for cold and storms to hit central China. The China Meteorological Administration reported on the 135h that from Feb.13 to 15, there will be a large-scale snow or snow in central China. The next day they reported large-scale snow and rain in central and eastern China.